The Navy says it reattached 5,400 coral colonies and removed 250 cubic yards of rubble in the largest and most expensive reef stabilization it has ever undertaken about a half-mile off the Honolulu Airport's Reef Runway.

The $7 million project was launched after the Pearl Harbor-based cruiser USS Port Royal ran aground on Feb. 5, authorities said.

The ship was freed on Feb. 9 and remains under repair at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

The state asked the Navy to perform the emergency work to salvage surviving live coral and stabilize the reef.